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Canadian cyclist Derek Gee stated publicly he is confronting a substantial legal demand totaling 30 million euros by his previous squad, the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team. This comes after his decision to end his contract due to what he described as "personal beliefs."

Departure Before Key Event and Underlying Reasons

The 28-year-old, after placing fourth in the general classification at this year’s Giro d’Italia, departed from Israel-Premier Tech just prior to September’s Vuelta a España. That race was subject to widespread pro-Palestinian protests connected with the conflict in Gaza.

"I terminated my contract with just cause, which is anyone's entitlement when they are unable to keep fulfilling their work under the existing circumstances," Gee explained in a social media post.

He emphasized that the decision was carefully considered and came after a broken relationship with the team's leader, in addition to serious concerns related to racing for the team from safety and ethical perspective. These factors deeply affected his moral judgment, he mentioned.

Team’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Israel-Premier Tech informed Reuters they could not to provide a statement on the matter as the case is now with the arbitration panel of cycling's governing body, the international cycling union. Reuters has also contacted the UCI for their input.

Gee admitted that departing from the team meant being without an agreement or protection if he were injured, but stated this was a chance he was willing to take as he could no longer continue racing with the squad.

Massive Claim and Team Changes

"I understand the team sees it differently," Gee went on. "Yet, I am now facing what I understand to be a damages claim said to exceed approximately €30m – for doing nothing more than upholding my basic rights as a professional and individual."

He shared that these developments strengthens my belief that leaving the team was the right decision, regardless of the recent announcement about rebranding and cosmetic structural shifts.

It remains unclear what the €30m figure represents. Riders typically earn just a small portion of that amount throughout their careers.

In related news, Israel–Premier Tech stated earlier this week that they will undertake a full rebrand for the 2026 season, moving away from their current Israeli branding after more than a decade.